Georgia Direct Entry MSN

Job growth in the health care sector is greater than growth in many other industries, which may be part of why you're interested in becoming a nurse. Whether your interests lie in nursing research, education, leadership, or direct care, your Bachelor's degree from another field may help you earn a Master's degree in nursing.

There are multiple Georgia nursing schools that offer direct entry MSN programs. With this type of program, the coursework from your previous Bachelor's degree can allow you to earn an MSN in as little as 18 months.
To learn more about how you can become a nurse in a short amount of time, while still applying your previous education credits, contact the schools on this page to learn more.

Georgia Direct Entry Master’s in Nursing programs are typically split up into two parts: the first part, which helps you develop undergraduate nursing skills, and the second part, which delves into graduate-level nursing in a specialty of your choice.

You'll need a fairly strong history of academic performance to be considered for admission to most of Georgia's direct entry MSN programs. These schools may require you to have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 to make it through the initial screening process. Furthermore, your undergraduate education must have provided you with enough science education to prepare you for an intensive nursing program. Requirements vary between educational institutions, but you'll likely need coursework in chemistry, biology, and statistics.

After you complete undergraduate classes like Core Nursing Skills, Fundamentals of Nursing, and Pathophysiology, you may move onto graduate courses that reflect your career goals. Some students want to go into direct care as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, or nurse practitioner. Others decide to go into fields like nurse administration, nurse education, and nursing research. Courses you may be expected to take at this level include Advanced Health Assessment, Leadership for Health Professions, Management of Acute and Chronic Illness, and Healthcare Quality.

Once you've decide on nursing as a career and been accepted to a direct entry MSN program in Georgia, you can start your search for scholarships and financial aid. Many health care employers have scholarship programs, like Archbold Medical Center. They fund numerous scholarships for those who are advancing their education in health care. A big resource for students is the Georgia Association for Nursing Education. They award the Lucy Willard Scholarship, the Sarah Helen Killgore Scholarship, and the Spillman-Bischoff Scholarship. The Georgia Nurses Association also awards scholarships to graduate-level nursing students. Scholarship amounts start at $500. The two main scholarships offered by this group are the Katherine Pope Scholarship and the Annie Lou Overton Scholarship.

Before you start working in the nursing field, you must meet the appropriate licensing requirements. The Georgia Board of Nursing is the agency that is responsible for nurse licensure. If you plan on becoming an advanced nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist, you must first get a registered nursing license. You can then apply for authorization as an advanced care provider.

Georgia may be a great place to start your advanced practice nursing career, since job growth rates are high across the board. Per O*Net, nurse anesthetists can anticipate the lowest job growth rates. Their anticipated job growth rate is still an impressive 28% between 2012 and 2022 (O*Net, 2012). Expected job growth is at a staggering 56 percent for nurse instructors (O*Net, 2012).

The salary you claim as a graduate-level nurse is dependent on your specialty and how much experience you bring to the table. Nurse instructors are on the lower end of the pay scale, with a reported average annual salary of $60,200 per year (O*Net, 2013). Nurse anesthetists, with an average salary of $135,400 per year, tend to be the highest-earning nurses in the state (O*Net, 2013).

This career offers room for growth and can likely bring you a good deal of job satisfaction. As you work and expand your skills, you can feel good knowing that you are bringing better health to the people of Florida. An advanced degree can help you positively influence the entire field of nursing. Contact the nursing schools on this page for program information to learn more today.

About Us

RNtoMSN was created by a group of talented individuals, including a Registered Nurse, who believe in the power of education to change lives. Our dedicated staff continually updates the nursing information and educational listings in an effort to provide you with direct access to Master’s in Nursing degree programs.